The Second World War in Africa, South of the Sahara

Members of the newly formed West African Air Corps who have been
presented with flashes having passed the RAF Trade Test,
seen here being inspected by Lord Swinton, 1945.
Courtesy: Imperial War Museum

When Italy entered the war by attacking British African territories in 1940, local troops of the Kings African Rifles and the Somaliland Camel Corps were immediately mobilised. India despatched a substantial force that helped to defeat the Italians in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Two complete Divisions of African infantry, comprising Nigerian, Gold Coast and Kings African Rifles soldiers, were all involved in the Italian East African Campaign which ended with the surrender of Italian troops at Gondar in November 1941. African troops also helped conquer Madagascar and were later deployed to Burma to assist in the defeat of the Japanese.

Naval presence in African Waters was maintained from various bases around the African coastline. Several Colonial naval forces had been established in African states during the 1930s, and were maintained by their Colonial Governments to protect their territorial waters. Close collaboration between these forces and the Royal Navy East Indies Fleet assisted with the protection of convoy traffic around the continent.

The RAF created a chain of airfields and other installations in West Africa to support the vital 3,600 mile air reinforcement route between Takoradi and Cairo – the ‘Takoradi Route’ – and to make it possible for maritime reconnaissance aircraft to patrol German Navy U-Boat operating areas off the African coast. The RAF employed large numbers of civilians from Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Nigeria to maintain these bases. In 1944 the West African Air Corps (WAAC) was created as an ancillary force, enabling the recruits from these states to be better trained in a variety of skilled ground trades; by 31 December 1944, the WAAC had expanded to nearly 5,000 men.